JERUSALEM — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel opened a weeklong visit to the Middle East yesterday
by pressing a U.S. agenda focused on deterring Iran — including a significant new weapons deal for
Israel — coupled with a strong caution that it would be premature for Israel to opt for unilateral
strikes on Tehran’s nuclear program.

Hagel, who was subject to intense, even hostile scrutiny during his confirmation process over
whether he was sufficiently supportive of Israel, hailed the “very special relationship” between
the United States and Israel. He also repeatedly emphasized Israel’s right to defend itself “in a
very dangerous, combustible region of the world.”

In recent days, Israeli officials have again discussed their right to act against Iran. But U.S.
national-security officials and military officers say it is unlikely that a strike by Israel would
be sufficient to terminate Iran’s nuclear program or halt any ambitions by Tehran to obtain nuclear
weapons.

Iran has denied that it seeks to build nuclear weapons and has said its enrichment program is
for civilian use.

Yesterday, Hagel acknowledged that there might be “minor” differences between the U.S. and
Israel on the timeline in which Iran might develop nuclear weapons.

“I think it’s important that we all keep our eye focused on the objective,” he said. “And there
is no daylight there at all — that Iran is prevented from acquiring that nuclear capacity.”

The current series of multilateral economic sanctions on Iran is among the toughest, most
effective ever applied, Hagel said. “We know through many measurements that those sanctions are
hurting Iran — significantly.”

Even so, he acknowledged that diplomacy and sanctions were not guaranteed to succeed.

“Military options, most of us feel, ought to be the last option,” he said.

During his travels, Hagel will be pushing forward with a $10 billion arms package intended to
further increase Israel’s military edge over other powers in the region while also bolstering the
armed forces of two important Persian Gulf allies, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Included in the weapons deal for Israel are tilt-rotor Osprey aircraft, which can be used for
transporting troops and patrolling borders and nearby seas, as well as advanced radar for Israeli
warplanes.